Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-09
A GREAT PREACHER GONE.

A GREAT PREACHER GONE.
The death of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
removes from among men one of the most
conspicuous of American characters.
Beeeher was a man like no other, compar-
able to no other Without being a great
scholar, or profound philosopher, he was
one OF the most successful pulpit orators
and best platform debaters of the world
The century has not given us so versatile
a mind, with such general mental breadth
and such marvellous capacity for all things
intellectual There was no subject in the
realm of thought upon which he did not
have something to say, and say brilliantly
and forcibly. His mentality was alive to
every pulsation of human thought, and re-
sponsiye TO every sentiment that concerned
the welfare Of mankind. His natural gifts
were very great; he was never driven to
hard labor to acquire skill or capacity
Nature had been 50 generous in her intel
lectual bounty TO Beecher that his devel-
opment was as natural and easy as the
growth Of plant The one thing most
notable in this strong man and tireless
worker in intellectual fields, was his cour-
age and his readiness. There was no occa-
sion in all his long career, to the issues of
which he was not equal. In this respect
his was consummate ability, and has left a
record of intellectual battles fought and
won in the face of apparently overpower-
ing odds, such as stand to the credit Of
few other men America has produced.
He was an indefatigable worker, and as he
labored seemed to grow stronger. To say
that his was a tireless brain is to express
the truth but feebly. He went to his
death as such a worker should-Suddenly
and without that decay that makes the
latter days of so many great men seasons
of pity and regret. Beecher was a wit
his sense of humor was keen and refined.
These carried him in perfect equilibrium
over breakers that would have capsized
ordinary men. He possessed the art of
using his wit at the right time and in the
light place, and in such eminent degree
that he was one of the very few who could
safely bring it into the pulpit and invite
his congregation, over which he exercised
marvellous influence, to indulge with him
in its efiervescence. There has never been,
probably, so successful public American
lecturer as Henry Ward Beeeher; GER
tainly no man has surpassed his lecture
rostrum successes in this country. He was
a strong influence in the age in which he
lived, making himself felt among men as
do only the few, and, however mistaken he
was at times as to policies and wise action
notably in political matters, he labored
for the humane as he understood it, and
was always for liberty, the largest free
dom of conscience, the highest and great
est possibilities Of men and the better
ment of the race. So he was helper in
the progress of the age, and one of the
foremost, lifting men up to his plane, en-
couraging them by his example and in
spring them with his own fearIessness.
His patriotism was always at fever heat;
he loved his country intensely, devotedly,
but was not blind to her faults. lie never
wayered in his faith in her, or shrank
from the consequences Of expressing his
views concerning her public affairs. The
service he rendered the cause of the nation
In the darkest hour of her supreme trial,
when he proceeded to England, bearded
the lion of disunion in his lair, and
stemmed the tide of English sentiment
that was crystallizing against the Union,
will ever be held in grateful remembrance
by the American people 1t was more
than a gallant act-it was heroic-and
proved of inestimable value to the cause of
free government. For this one service, If
all else was forgotten, we can af-
ford to be blind to all possible
defects in this gifted man. With
all his intellectual greatness, his marvellous
brilliancy, his clear-headedness and versa
fility, there was an eccentric vein in his
character. It led him to many extrava-
gances that cooler men stop short of it
1t BETRAYED him into indiscretions of ex-
preston and attitude on great questions,
that in other men by postponement would
have become wise action. There was per-
haps no better evidence Of his popularity
than the fact that society constantly
sought to know his opinions and that il
made him hundreds Of times the target
for It's criticism and assault For his was
a character 50 rugged in its bravery IS to
invite antagonism, and court the assaults
of opponents. He never begged quarter
of such, or appealed for their fOrbearanee
or timidIy explained to them. lie was
weak man that he was not proyident.
Such one he ought to have amassed